International Women's Day -- WomenAloudNI

[Kerrybuchanan]

@Jo Zebedee is probably too modest to post about this, but today she is helping to organise a reading and performance event here in Northern Ireland, Women Aloud NI 2016 which is set up to raise awareness for women writers, poets, playwrights, songwriters, etc.

All over Northern Ireland and in parts of the rest of the world, women are coming together in bookshops, libraries, church halls and any space that'll take us, and we're reading poetry, short stories, plays, telling tales and making music. Its an amazing project and I'm proud to be involved in it. There are more than 130 of us, of all ages and backgrounds. It's such a buzz.

If you want to follow, look out for the Twitter tag #WomenAloudNI, or check us out on Facebook.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I'm currently grabbing a coffee before going on the radio to chat about it and then hightailing it to my event.

I hope it's a great day - any shares on fb and Twitter very much appreciated!

 

[Mad Alice]

Don't have a tweet but will post the link where I can.
Best of luck with it. Hope it turns out smashing.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Great event! One more to go this evening. Then a week off .

 

[Cat's Cradle]

As far as I'm concerned, every day is International Women's Day! I wished my wife a happy day first thing this morning.
Also, way to go, Jo!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Thanks all! It was a great day and a testament to what can be done.

3 months ago a local writer, Jane Talbot, came up with the idea of having a day to mark the female writers in NI. From that idea, we (I found myself on the committee...) ended up with a new network of women writers (which is a much more vibrant scene than I ever imagined), events throughout NI, plus one in Scotland and in Mellorca.

In all over 130 writers read their work today in venues ranging from bookstore chains, independents, libraries, the Guildhall in Derry...There has been tv coverage, radio interviews, and now, a lot of exhausted people. (I did a tv interview at 11, ran an event between 12-2, attended and read at another event.) It's all over social media.

In all, a great day, one hopefully to be repeated next year, and an example of what can be done when a community pulls together with a little bit of vision.